Last update - 00:00 15/11/2007
MK Tibi calls for Arab representative on health basket panel
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent
MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List) has called on Health Minister Ya'akov Ben-Izri to allow an Arab representative to sit on the ministry's health basket panel.
"There is no reason that a committee that appoints 17 members does not have an Arab representative," said Tibi, add.
The MK added that the status quo "is continuing the government's policy of denying the fact that 20 percent of the population in this country that are Arab and that 35 percent of all sick people are from the Arab sector."
Tibi brought the matter to the attention of the health minister and the ministry's director general, Professor Avi Israeli, on Thursday.
He told Haaretz, "It would be appropriate that of the committee representatives, a psychologist, social worker or doctor should be an Arab."
The Health Ministry said in response, "the health minister is proud of fact that during his tenure the first Arab in the history of Israel has been appointed as administrator of a hospital... the minister will continue to work for equality.
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